Save the Trees!
On a late afternoon last week, Rigge and several of his staff met with nine residents of Stewart Street in between the two old tanks. They’d invited him there to explain the water tank situation. Perry and Palmer showed up, too — one resident said afterward she resented their presence.
A woman in a green dress worried aloud that if the city decided to build a new tank here on the old site — across from her house — the construction could disrupt her life enough that she might just have to “pack up and move out for a year.”
Several wondered if a new, bigger tank here would obstruct their views — they’d all been attracted to this quiet street on the top of a hill for its sweeping view of the Eel River Valley. Others asked technical questions.
Afterward, the woman in green lingered in the street to talk with her neighbors Steve Brackenbury and Frank Ramos, who moved here from the Bay Area last year. Despite concerns over construction disruption, they all agreed they’d rather have a new water tank across the street than a bunch of new houses or, dread, a noisy skateboard park. For that matter, the quaint-looking old circular tank was an asset (but not so the leaking rectangular one).
“This is one of the things that drew us here,” said Ramos. “That, and it’s a dead-end street, there’s a view, it’s quiet, and there’s an old-fashioned barn.”
But as for the trees in the park — there they parted ways. The men both said they’d rather see a new tank go here than in the forest. “We moved up here because it’s redwood country,” said Ramos. “Arcata has its park. You don’t pack up and move 250 miles to have what you came here for cut down.”
The men walked a few paces to pet the dog in the woman in green’s yard. The woman, who wouldn’t give her name, scoffed good-naturedly. “It’s Humboldt County for goodness sakes,” she said. “So you have to cut down a couple of trees to provide water for the city — geez, they grow back.”
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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TWO Comments
Comment / By grannyj / July 22, 2008, 5:35 p.m.
I have to add my 2c, in that I also love to go up into the city trees whenever I get a chance. My reason is for prayer and meditation. It is the Lord’s Cathedral and a very special place for prayer. I pray for this town, because there are so many changed taking place. I liked it the old way best, the home-town atmosphere. But We all must grow and change I guess. I just hope and pray our City Council will not make this another Santa Rosa (or large, impersonal city). I am really praying the OUR trees get to stay and we can either repair or rebuild another water tank in another location. When did the bottom line become the “It’s all about money” line?
Comment / By M. D. Vaden of Oregon / Nov. 4, 2008, 7:26 a.m.
At least somebody is discussing something.
Step one anyway.
There are several ways to take care of redwoods and take care of people.